The cause for the beatification of Servant of God Bishop Alfredo Verzosa, bishop of Lipa during the Lipa Apparitions in 1948, needs 30 witnesses, according to Sr. Julie Micosa, MCSH.  There were already 14 witnesses who were interviewed by the tribunal working for the cause, she said.

 

Those who wish to have prayer cards of Bishop Verzosa can text Sr. Julie Micosa at 0919-5088601 or e-mail her at [email protected]. Text your name and address, so the nun can mail to you the prayer card.

 

Those who want to donate money to the cause can also text Sr. Julie.  Favors answered by praying to Bishop Verzosa can be sent to Msgr. Gary Formoso, judge delegate for the cause of Bishop Verzosa, to the Archdiocese of Nueva Segovia, Vigan City.

 

Lipa apparitions

 

According to the book of Fr. Ericson Josue, Bishop Verzosa was the Bishop of Lipa during the shower of roses between Sept. 12 and Nov. 12, 1948, when Our Lady reportedly appeared to then postulant Sr. Teresing Castillo in the garden of the Carmelita convent in Lipa.  Bishop Alfredo Obviar whose cause of beatification is also ongoing in the Vatican was the auxiliary bishop.

 

On Dec. 6, 1948, two months and 24 days later, Bishop Verzosa gave an Imprimatur on the account of the visits of Our Lady Mary Mediatrix of All Grace by the Mother Prioress of Lipa Carmelite Monastery. From then on, Bishop Verzosa became one of the greatest supporters of Our Lady’s message in the Lipa apparitions.

 

Our Lady’s message

 

Bishop Verzosa underlined Our Lady’s words to Teresita (Teresita Castillo, the visionary): “Tell this to the people.  They do not believe me.  Nor do they give me what I ask. Pray, my child. Pray much because of persecution.  Pray for priests. What I ask here is exactly what have asked from Fatima. ” (“The Scapular,” November-December, 1949, p. 9).

 

On Sept. 15, 1950, a World Novena for Peace pamphlet with the Imprimatur of Msgr. Vicente Reyes, auxiliary bishop and vicar general of Manila, and Nihil Obstat of Fr. Artemio Casas, censor, with the purpose of bringing the whole world in prayer and supplication before Mary Mediatrix of All Grace was published.

 

This novena was sponsored by the Malate Holy Name Society in coordination with the Catholic War Veterans and Auxiliary of USA.  On Oct. 5-13, 1950, the World Novena for Peace was held in the chapel of Carmel in Lipa using the prayer that had Bishop Alfredo Verzosa’s Imprimatur, dated Jan. 19, 1949.

 

Marian bishop

 

On Jan. 11, the cause for Verzosa’s beatification and canonization was opened at the Conversion of St. Paul Cathedral in Vigan, Ilocos Sur, where Bishop Verzosa hailed from.

 

Verzosa had always been an ardent devotee of Our Lady. Even as a young priest, he had a deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin.

 

On Sept. 25, 1905, Padre Alfredo’s book, “Ni Apo Santa Maria” (The Blessed Virgin Mary), was published.

 

I encourage my readers, especially the Ilocanos, to pray to him.

 

College seminary for Laoag

 

Laoag Bishop Renato Mayugba informed me that the diocese is planning to build a college seminary in Bacarra, Ilocos Norte.   There are already 20 seminarians studying Philosophy at the old St. William’s College building in the center of town.  But for quiet study and reflection, the seminarians need to live somewhere else.

 

Rector of the college seminary is Fr. Jesus Peralta.

 

The seminary will be dedicated to Mary, Cause of Our Joy, the patroness of Ilocos Norte.  She is more popularly known as Our Lady of Badoc, a replica image of whom can be found at the St. William’s Cathedral.

 

The original image is enthroned in the Church of St. John the Baptist in Badoc town.

 

Donations to the seminary building project are welcome.

 

Retreat houses

 

Meanwhile, Fr. Ronald Bonayon, parish priest of St. John Sahagun in Burgos town, runs a retreat house called Santuario de Maria Retreat House.  There is also one in Mangato, Laoag City, called Foyer de Charite.  These are popular places for retreats among Ilocos folk but pilgrims from out of town are welcome.  (Text Fr. Bonayon at 0999-9918300.)

 

Fr. Bonayon is bringing pilgrims to the Holy Land on Oct. 6.  Those who are interested in joining him can text him.

 

Leadership summit

 

University of the Philippines graduate Ancilla Inocencio attended   the Student Leadership Summit in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, last  June 25-28.

 

Ancilla, daughter of lawyer Andrew Ancilla, a nephew of Fr. Erno Diaz (parish priest of St. Margaret Mary Alacoque Church in Staten Island), is now enrolled in the Master’s Program in Economics. Ancilla was endorsed by the Honors Society of UP to attend the summit.

 

Ancilla later flew to New York to attend the book launching of Fr. Erno at the lobby of the Philippine Consulate on Fifth Ave.